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| There was yet another story in today's newspaper about folks in the northwoods wanting ordinances to prohibit or limit the use of so called "Wake Boats". They had quotes from local officials, DNR, etc. basically saying there is little in state law that regulates this type of craft. To date, the small chain where I live does not have a resident 'wake boat' and while I have seen them at boat shows have not seen them operating in person.
I know one member of the lake association I belong to is very concerned about the damage they can do shoreline structure, etc. The chain I live on is a shallow flowage and frankly I don't think the boats could navigate the shallow channels to get from one lake to the other, if they draw as much water as some have stated. But my question for those who have firsthand experience is whether they can damage habitat like shallow water spawning beds. One guy claimed the wake put his small fishing boat up on his dock. I would think that kind of power might tear up weed beds, sandy flats, etc.
Again, no firsthand knowledge, just wondering if other regions/states have any regulation on this type of craft and if you have seen any habitat damage from them. |
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Posts: 2050
| My first thought is if the lake is big enough that someone wants to wakeboard on it, it probably has 3' waves when the wind blows hard too? I'd be fine if all lakes 1000 acres or less were no wake - ha! |
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Posts: 122
Location: Twin Cities Metro | There is practically no limit to the size of a lake that a wake boat can operate on. Wake boats have ballast tanks to increase their displacement when they are operating. When these ballast tanks are empty, the wake boat has a draft no deeper than a typical runabout. When they want to wake surf, they just pump water into the ballast tanks; it takes just a couple minutes.
For reference I fish a 220-acre lake where the only boat launch is separated from the main lake by a channel with a depth of 2 feet or slightly less (my depth finder said 1.7 feet for a decently-long stretch of the channel). Wake boats abound on that lake; they have no issue putting in and traversing that channel with their ballast tanks empty.
I don't expect that these wake boats produce much damage to shoreline habitat or property as long as they observe the rules. Those rules (in MN) include "no wake" within 150 feet of shore. Of course, those rules also say that boats shouldn't be producing a wake within 150 feet of fishing boats either. That's the part that definitely gets ignored.
When I see them on a lake, I grit my teeth and try to tell myself it's their lake as much as mine. If you're casting in the bow on a calm day and a wake boat putters by behind you at 10mph producing a 3 footer, you can easily end up in the drink. You really need to be aware of your surroundings with them on the lake. They won't be paying attention to you, you can count on that. But if you're not paying attention to them, it can cost you.
Be careful out there.
Edited by RobertK 1/14/2022 1:37 PM
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| I had looked at a review of five wake boats and all had draft of over 2 feet, without ballast. One of the channels on our chain I have to trim my 90hp tiller on a 18' Pro V way up for a good way to avoid hitting bottom and since they are inboards, assumed they would not get through without damaging prop.
Again, no firsthand knowledge of the boats, just have seen a lot of discussion about them at town meetings and for the first time this summer, at our lake association annual meeting. Apparently in some areas of northern WI, they have become very controversial. Ones I saw at boat shows were really pricey. Did admire the engineering that went into them. |
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Posts: 122
Location: Twin Cities Metro | I think there IS the potential for wake boats to do damage to spawn habitat since often times this habitat is protected from wind action by some form of structure. There is no escaping a wake boat, though. If they decide to wake surf in a spawning bay, they will produce three footers where there would never otherwise be three footers. How different is it, though, then if a 21 foot Ranger goes up on plane while leaving that same bay?
I can understand why the boats are controversial. Their main purpose is to create big waves, and that's annoying to folks that want a quiet time on the water. And if wake boats fail to observe the rules, they can definitely do damage even at low speeds. They produce the same or larger wake than a big boat on plane. Lots of people have common sense enough to give other boaters and the shoreline some space when they're going 40mph. But, through the magic of engineering, a wake boat going 10mph creates just as large a wake, and they often don't seem to have any problem with driving right next to you while they do it. |
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Posts: 1496
Location: Brighton CO. | When I was a kid back in the 70's they (some of the guides) used to say "take any motor over 15 horse and burn them" or
i'll give up my big motor if everybody else does too! |
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Posts: 20238
Location: oswego, il | I fish a lake up north that's just over 200 acres and about 4 years ago a family bought a home on the lake that only pleasure boats. Wake boat, several jet skis and a couple other pleasure boats. It's enough that when they are out it's time to get off the lake.
Indiana has done a great job with this. They have many lakes that are 10mph only and some that are 10mph with open boating from 1-4pm.
Edited by ToddM 1/15/2022 7:25 AM
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | IAJustin - 1/14/2022 1:11 PM
My first thought is if the lake is big enough that someone wants to wakeboard on it, it probably has 3' waves when the wind blows hard too? I'd be fine if all lakes 1000 acres or less were no wake - ha!
Nope. There are wakeboard boats and 600 hp pontoons on 500 acre lakes here. It's so bad some days you can't stand up in the boat. Minocqua is absolutely ridiculous. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | RobertK - 1/14/2022 2:21 PM
I think there IS the potential for wake boats to do damage to spawn habitat since often times this habitat is protected from wind action by some form of structure. There is no escaping a wake boat, though. If they decide to wake surf in a spawning bay, they will produce three footers where there would never otherwise be three footers. How different is it, though, then if a 21 foot Ranger goes up on plane while leaving that same bay?
I can understand why the boats are controversial. Their main purpose is to create big waves, and that's annoying to folks that want a quiet time on the water. And if wake boats fail to observe the rules, they can definitely do damage even at low speeds. They produce the same or larger wake than a big boat on plane. Lots of people have common sense enough to give other boaters and the shoreline some space when they're going 40mph. But, through the magic of engineering, a wake boat going 10mph creates just as large a wake, and they often don't seem to have any problem with driving right next to you while they do it.
How different? A LOT. A big boat going up on plane is a short lived wave in a small area. Wakeboarders and HUGE pontoons make giant waves the entire time they are on plane. I guide the Minocqua chain, and call it the 'wash machine' after 10 any day during the summer. |
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Posts: 122
Location: Twin Cities Metro | I hear ya, Steve. I really don’t like those wake boats, either. |
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Posts: 2298
Location: SE, WI. |
So: the jet skis R Not So Bad Afterall. Give me a jets ski any day, before a Wake Boat. Down here in SE Wi. , the lakes have gotten totally out of control after these wake boats became popular. 2-3 years ago, I’ve had to have taken in over 100 gallons of water over my gunnel, in a 18’ ranger. Wake Boats R a Total Menace!!! Small aluminum boats, and kayaks R constantly being tipped on our waters. Skiers and wake boats R allowed plain at Sunrise till sunset. There is no safe area on our lakes, especially weekends. Even some wake boats push the sunset limits and extend their activity 15-25 minutes after sundown. The police boat seems to just turn their heads as these rich boaters seem to live on the lake and pay the big taxes. Usually what I noticed, is the cops seem to pick on the smaller boats and anglers for small violations. Besides the huge wakes, the boom boxes blaring Rap Crap, and other music at full decipals is very annoying. The pontoons cruise the no wake buoys often going in side the no wake as fisherman try to fish shoreline, or weed lines. The is literally No etiquette from these pontoons. A lot of Ignorance here! On top of that, at the launches these wake boats seem to launch around 7 am on weekends, then proceed to dock their boats at the public piers provided till 9-10 am, and not let other boaters use their spot on the public pier for 2-3 hours, like it’s their private pier! ;( Shear Ignorance)! The lake association seems to do nothing about negotiating at time frame for these WAKE boats. A 11-4 time frame may give other users of the lake some time to fish an relax. Years ago, you could start fishing early mornings till about 11 am before you had to get off the water avoiding the craziness. Now, the launches are pretty much full, yes, 60 spots by 9 am. It has literally gotten to the point that if you want to fish, in some sort of peace, to launch at about 8pm, and fish into total darkness to get some peace and enjoyment. It (Wake Boats) Has Really gotten out of Total control on our waters……Sheesh! JD
Edited by jdsplasher 1/16/2022 6:14 AM
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| jdsplasher - 1/16/2022 5:58 AM
So: the jet skis R Not So Bad Afterall. Give me a jets ski any day, before a Wake Boat. Down here in SE Wi. , the lakes have gotten totally out of control after these wake boats became popular. 2-3 years ago, I’ve had to have taken in over 100 gallons of water over my gunnel, in a 18’ ranger. Wake Boats R a Total Menace!!! Small aluminum boats, and kayaks R constantly being tipped on our waters. Skiers and wake boats R allowed plain at Sunrise till sunset. There is no safe area on our lakes, especially weekends. Even some wake boats push the sunset limits and extend their activity 15-25 minutes after sundown. The police boat seems to just turn their heads as these rich boaters seem to live on the lake and pay the big taxes. Usually what I noticed, is the cops seem to pick on the smaller boats and anglers for small violations. Besides the huge wakes, the boom boxes blaring Rap Crap, and other music at full decipals is very annoying. The pontoons cruise the no wake buoys often going in side the no wake as fisherman try to fish shoreline, or weed lines. The is literally No etiquette from these pontoons. A lot of Ignorance here! On top of that, at the launches these wake boats seem to launch around 7 am on weekends, then proceed to dock their boats at the public piers provided till 9-10 am, and not let other boaters use their spot on the public pier for 2-3 hours, like it’s their private pier! ;( Shear Ignorance)! The lake association seems to do nothing about negotiating at time frame for these WAKE boats. A 11-4 time frame may give other users of the lake some time to fish an relax. Years ago, you could start fishing early mornings till about 11 am before you had to get off the water avoiding the craziness. Now, the launches are pretty much full, yes, 60 spots by 9 am. It has literally gotten to the point that if you want to fish, in some sort of peace, to launch at about 8pm, and fish into total darkness to get some peace and enjoyment. It (Wake Boats) Has Really gotten out of Total control on our waters……Sheesh! JD
There is nothing the lake associations can do. And very little the municipalities can do. The DNR cannot do anything either, unless they actually hurt somebody. The newspaper here in Rhinelander has covered town board meetings on the subject quite extensively. About the only thing that can be done is to limit hours and that gets tricky as well. From what our lake association president found when he did some research, there is no interest in regulating the boats in the legislature and that is where it would have to come from. During the Walker administration, bills were passed that forbade the DNR from creating any regulation not specifically approved by the legislature. |
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Posts: 406
Location: SW Ohio | sworrall - 1/15/2022 11:14 PM
IAJustin - 1/14/2022 1:11 PM
My first thought is if the lake is big enough that someone wants to wakeboard on it, it probably has 3' waves when the wind blows hard too? I'd be fine if all lakes 1000 acres or less were no wake - ha!
Nope. There are wakeboard boats and 600 hp pontoons on 500 acre lakes here. It's so bad some days you can't stand up in the boat. Minocqua is absolutely ridiculous.
Same here in SW Ohio. Alum Creek has the lake split in half--northern half is all no-wake while the southern half is run-what-ya-brung. Caesar Creek has no large open water no-wake areas except the lower end near the #*^@. Even then people run through it, ski through it and basically ignore the no-wake rules. Even getting out early no longer affords the opportunity to fish peacefully. The wake board boats are worse than the ski boats in the wakes they kick out. Almost impossible to fish the banks as these wakes will push you into the shoreline (Caesar is very deep with steep banks on the south end). You definitely need to have your head on a swivel to watch who or what might be headed your way.
I agree that the water is theirs to use as much as mine but a little courtesy goes a long way. Unfortunately, there does no appear to much of that in play nowadays. |
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| sworrall - 1/15/2022 10:14 PM
IAJustin - 1/14/2022 1:11 PM
My first thought is if the lake is big enough that someone wants to wakeboard on it, it probably has 3' waves when the wind blows hard too? I'd be fine if all lakes 1000 acres or less were no wake - ha!
Nope. There are wakeboard boats and 600 hp pontoons on 500 acre lakes here. It's so bad some days you can't stand up in the boat. Minocqua is absolutely ridiculous.
The property owner who was quite concerned at our annual lake association mentioned Minocqua and the problem with the wake boats there. She claimed a friend was considering selling their lake home for that reason. Some of it comes down to common courtesy. I was out fishing in late summer on a 100 acre lake in the chain when three young men on high powered PWCs came flying into the lake. But, when they saw me fishing, they made sure to stay well away from me. They flew around the lake for about 15 minutes but never got closer than maybe 200 yards until they were leaving the lake to go down the channel. They had to get closer than because of where I was at, but they slowed way down in passing and gave me a wave. They did their thing but gave me space. |
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Posts: 2298
Location: SE, WI. |
North of 8 - 1/16/2022 7:30 AM jdsplasher - 1/16/2022 5:58 AM
So: the jet skis R Not So Bad Afterall. Give me a jets ski any day, before a Wake Boat. Down here in SE Wi. , the lakes have gotten totally out of control after these wake boats became popular. 2-3 years ago, I’ve had to have taken in over 100 gallons of water over my gunnel, in a 18’ ranger. Wake Boats R a Total Menace!!! Small aluminum boats, and kayaks R constantly being tipped on our waters. Skiers and wake boats R allowed plain at Sunrise till sunset. There is no safe area on our lakes, especially weekends. Even some wake boats push the sunset limits and extend their activity 15-25 minutes after sundown. The police boat seems to just turn their heads as these rich boaters seem to live on the lake and pay the big taxes. Usually what I noticed, is the cops seem to pick on the smaller boats and anglers for small violations. Besides the huge wakes, the boom boxes blaring Rap Crap, and other music at full decipals is very annoying. The pontoons cruise the no wake buoys often going in side the no wake as fisherman try to fish shoreline, or weed lines. The is literally No etiquette from these pontoons. A lot of Ignorance here! On top of that, at the launches these wake boats seem to launch around 7 am on weekends, then proceed to dock their boats at the public piers provided till 9-10 am, and not let other boaters use their spot on the public pier for 2-3 hours, like it’s their private pier! ;( Shear Ignorance)! The lake association seems to do nothing about negotiating at time frame for these WAKE boats. A 11-4 time frame may give other users of the lake some time to fish an relax. Years ago, you could start fishing early mornings till about 11 am before you had to get off the water avoiding the craziness. Now, the launches are pretty much full, yes, 60 spots by 9 am. It has literally gotten to the point that if you want to fish, in some sort of peace, to launch at about 8pm, and fish into total darkness to get some peace and enjoyment. It (Wake Boats) Has Really gotten out of Total control on our waters……Sheesh! JD There is nothing the lake associations can do. And very little the municipalities can do. The DNR cannot do anything either, unless they actually hurt somebody. The newspaper here in Rhinelander has covered town board meetings on the subject quite extensively. About the only thing that can be done is to limit hours and that gets tricky as well. From what our lake association president found when he did some research, there is no interest in regulating the boats in the legislature and that is where it would have to come from. During the Walker administration, bills were passed that forbade the DNR from creating any regulation not specifically approved by the legislature. Not aware of all the circumstances, but there’s been a 2-3 deaths the past 2 years here. People wiping out on skis in 3-4 footers, creates dangerous situations on visibility. Also kids jumping of pontoons/ swimming in 35-40 feet of water, outside no wake bouys, is an accident waiting to happen. Maybe then, someone will Step In! JD |
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Posts: 210
| Wake boats can be controlled by no wake restrictions. Good example is village of Presque Isle. They have a no wake ordinace within 200 feet of shore. Due to the size and shapes of the lakes this restriction if enforced would effectively restrict wake boats to 3 or 4 lakes. In spite of this the Wilderness Alliance has filed suit against the town board demanding they outlaw wake boats on all village water. Under advice of counsel the board has refused to take the vote as to not make them the target of boat manufacturers or wake booard groups. Its not the boat but how you operate it.
No wake from 6 PM until 10 AM - No wake with 200 feet of Shorelines - Operator is responsible for all wake damage |
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| pstrombe - 1/17/2022 9:12 AM
Wake boats can be controlled by no wake restrictions. Good example is village of Presque Isle. They have a no wake ordinace within 200 feet of shore. Due to the size and shapes of the lakes this restriction if enforced would effectively restrict wake boats to 3 or 4 lakes. In spite of this the Wilderness Alliance has filed suit against the town board demanding they outlaw wake boats on all village water. Under advice of counsel the board has refused to take the vote as to not make them the target of boat manufacturers or wake booard groups. Its not the boat but how you operate it.
No wake from 6 PM until 10 AM - No wake with 200 feet of Shorelines - Operator is responsible for all wake damage
The story in Rhinelander paper discussed no wake zones, with a township ordinance as a control measure. But corporate counsel cautioned that it has to be written very carefully so as not to invite further litigation. Apparently, some ordinances that were drafted were tossed because they were too broad, etc. |
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Posts: 32910
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I fish several lakes where wakeboards and giant toons have taken over daylight hours. What used to be a 20' toon with a 50 idling by 100 feet away is now a 300 to 600 hp toon roaring by full throttle. How in the heck does one keep a beer in a glass at 60mph? Now as they rip by a casting distance away, they wave...like "hi there, we are going to flip your boat now! Enjoy." |
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Posts: 167
Location: Tomahawk, WI | I have nothing good to say about those wake boats. That dam surfing all day long just drives me nuts!!! When I was young and still skiing, the ski boat companys all tried to have their boats make the smallest wake possible. Not so much with these wake boats. Unfortunetly, I dont see these things going away anytime soon. |
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| sworrall - 1/17/2022 1:49 PM
I fish several lakes where wakeboards and giant toons have taken over daylight hours. What used to be a 20' toon with a 50 idling by 100 feet away is now a 300 to 600 hp toon roaring by full throttle. How in the heck does one keep a beer in a glass at 60mph? Now as they rip by a casting distance away, they wave...like "hi there, we are going to flip your boat now! Enjoy."
I don't get the concept of these super high powered pontoons. Bought ours new back in '08, with 90hp 4stk Merc. Most of the time is spent putting along, enjoying being on the lake with friends and family. |
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| pstrombe - 1/17/2022 9:12 AM
Wake boats can be controlled by no wake restrictions. Good example is village of Presque Isle. They have a no wake ordinace within 200 feet of shore. Due to the size and shapes of the lakes this restriction if enforced would effectively restrict wake boats to 3 or 4 lakes. In spite of this the Wilderness Alliance has filed suit against the town board demanding they outlaw wake boats on all village water. Under advice of counsel the board has refused to take the vote as to not make them the target of boat manufacturers or wake booard groups. Its not the boat but how you operate it.
No wake from 6 PM until 10 AM - No wake with 200 feet of Shorelines - Operator is responsible for all wake damage
That's good in theory, but with no law enforcement presence who is going to stop them? I agree that most of the lakes would be off limits just due to size, small landings and no parking, but it won't stop them from trying. Hope they try Crab first.  |
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Posts: 3904
| I HATE wakeboard boats and they are part of the reason I sold my lakehouse in SW MI. I lived on Gravel Lake, about 300 acres, the property/place was in the family since 1865. I was 5th generation owner. Broke my heart to see how the congestion and noise and great anal-unit behavior became the new normal in my lifetime. Lawsuits and fistfights and the lake surface was filthy with weeds and an oil sheen from May thru September. First the big boats drove us off the water during the day and then the weeds on the surface prevented us from fishing at night.
I have no doubt the steady, crazy waves changed the habitat but who knows if for the worse or better. We used to have hundreds/thousands of bluegill beds every early summer in 3-5' of water all along our half mile shoreline. Over the span of 10 years the fish moved out to bed in 10-15' of water. Crashed the population but if you knew what/where we were catching 10" gills. I dunno. Do know this, tho....
The big ass waves greatly increased erosion of the shoreline, particularly on the northwest part of the lake. That shoreline rarely saw big waves due to prevailing winds and the bottom was silt/sand. After 10 years the steady pleasure boat waves made the shallow lake bottom migrate deeper, the currents pulled the soft/light silt out away from the shoreline. Now, increased people also means increased sewage and lawn fertilizer. So, what used to be weed-free silt/sand in 2-6' of water became very weedy water in 1-3' of water. It used to be 5' deep 100' from shore and you could row a light boat right up to the shoreline. Not anymore and never again - now it's 2' deep 100' from shore and maybe 10" deep 20' from shore. You have to have a kayak or canoe to pull up to the shoreline, everything else will bottom out.
I lived on the windblown east side of the lake and the waves ****ed us over, too. Indirectly. Every few years the lake dropped to relatively low levels and the Chicago anal-units trucked in sand for their beaches. Tons of sand. When the water levels went back to normal the spring waves and then the summer pleasure boat waves "redistributed" all that sand. It made the shallow water even more shallow and big waves rolled over everything to chew away at our front yards, making everything even more shallow.
I can go on and on, but I'll stop here. I HATE wakeboard boats and by association everybody from Chicago. Sorry, but not, Andrew.
Edited by Ranger 1/17/2022 7:15 PM
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Posts: 210
| It's my understanding Village of Presque Isle will be stepping up enforcement this year. |
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Location: E. Tenn | North of 8 - 1/17/2022 3:47 PM
I don't get the concept of these super high powered pontoons. Bought ours new back in '08, with 90hp 4stk Merc. Most of the time is spent putting along, enjoying being on the lake with friends and family.
I love it when I'm just outside a weed edge 100' offshore, casting toward shore, and the puttering pontoon goes between me and the shore "to stay out of my way". Oh yes, there's the waves like "Hi we're just going to just blow up this whole shoreline you're trying to fish."
Edited by miket55 1/17/2022 9:44 PM
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Posts: 18
| I HATE wake boats. I HATE wake boats.
I am so glad to see everyone else's experience with other boaters and the frustration expressed with other rude boaters behaviors. I was starting to think I might have anger issues and was perhaps to sensitive to others encroaching on my space. Thank you for the validation. |
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Posts: 427
| The only way to control Wake Boats is by limiting HP on all boats using that lake. Are you sure that is a can of worms worth opening? You may be cutting off your nose to spite your face. No more 300- 400hp Rangers ect..... Think about it. Ya I hate wake boats as much as anyone does, including water skiers, but every thing comes with a cost. That may end up being HP Restrictions. Are you willing to pay the price? Just my two cents |
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| I think the biggest problem, shore line and property damage could be limited by enforcing distance from shore ordinances. At least in theory. However, in counties like Oneida and Vilas with so many lakes, so much shore line, don't know how you would ever enforce it. And there is a lot of money involved. Very expensive boats, very profitable for manufacturers and dealers. |
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| North of 8 - 1/18/2022 1:44 PM
I think the biggest problem, shore line and property damage could be limited by enforcing distance from shore ordinances. At least in theory. However, in counties like Oneida and Vilas with so many lakes, so much shore line, don't know how you would ever enforce it. And there is a lot of money involved. Very expensive boats, very profitable for manufacturers and dealers.
I appreciate what you're saying but distance from shore will never be applied in small, very congested lakes. Like lakes under 400 acres. In southwest MI there are tons of small lakes, lakes between 400 and 50 acres. Many, if not most, of those lakes have no open lakefront lots left. My old stomp, 300-acre big Gravel Lake, is totally developed and not just on the lakeshore. There is also a secondary circle of houses on the other side of the street. Now check this crazy.... most lots on the lake are between 30 and 40' wide. You can be eating dinner in your house and with the windows open hear your neighbor flush their toilet. What used to be small fishing cottages are now 2 story luxury homes built to the very edge of setbacks. And all those homes have huge docks with way too many boats. The Chicago people descend on Friday and the lake ROARS till Monday.
Regarding law enforcement - all the rowdy, loud anal-units have an agreement - the first person to see the law putting a boat into the lake sends an emergency text to everybody else. And there's an agreement that if you see the law you pull your air horn and honk it 3 times. If you hear the 3 honks you pull your horn and honk 3 times. The whole dang lake lights up with sound for 2 minutes as the word is passed. It's all about DUIs - drunks hand over driving to a kid or boot scoot for home. The whole lake knows the law is there before the deputies even finish putting their boat in the water. The entire lake association is managed by homeowners from Chicago. It was lake association leadership that came up with the plan. |
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Posts: 123
| checking videos and comments on social media, you get this:
Honestly just get over it
Just jealous u can afford one
Karen!!! Im going to bring my Wake boat out from Montana just to pee you off!!!
Notice where the "dangerous shoreline overhang" is there is no vegetation to prevent the natural erosion. Looks like it was removed by a property owner. Hmmm?
Your an idiot, I like how you put the camera down next to the water to make it look like erosion. Not to mention you show boats on step not towing. You should take better care of it by leaving native plants and not ornamental grass so it looks pretty....
**
My conclusion: I'd rather debate Wisconsin trolling or native spearing regs. At least the other side has an argument. These wakeboaters are completely retarded.
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Posts: 542
Location: NW WI | Detracting from subject required:
Wake boats are just a symptom of the disease man, which is 0 natural resource education to the public,lack of funding to enforcement, lazy and uneducated enforcement.
Assume you successfully regulate wake boats okay? Your still left with every other "traditional" recreationer eroding shoreline(fisherman not exempt) albeit at slower rate, homeowners illegaly developing shoreline, homeowners and builders not using proper erosion control methods.
Idk how to solve this problem, but the very people that we're talking about; I work for. Most are kind,wealthy, and 50% are self centered. They keep alot of us in the Northwoods employed, I'm not advocating that they should be jailed into their rightful vacation property. Buuuuuuuut....
There's a saying we have at work "You can't be smart if your stupid". I think it applies for these folks. They simply don't know anybetter. They can certainly afford a tax hike on their lakeshore property. Use that funding to issue all current and future developing lakeshore owners annnnd builders a "legal brochure". Something that simplifies and provides colored picture examples of current and now future legislation. Than when enforcement comes there's no exceptions for the "Oh I didnt know" statement.
Ranger-I hope you reported that garbage. Yall ever see crap like that, u can file an anymouse tip at 1-800-847-9367 to the WI DNR.
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Posts: 54
| I am so glad to see everyone else's experience with other boaters and the frustration expressed with other rude boaters behaviors. I was starting to think I might have anger issues and was perhaps to sensitive to others encroaching on my space. Thank you for the validation.
(My thoughts exactly) |
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Posts: 463
| You guys should see Lake Geneva on the summer weekends, close second Fox Chain. The level of crazy is purely off the charts. |
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| 7.62xJay - 1/18/2022 9:42 PM
Detracting from subject required:
Wake boats are just a symptom of the disease man, which is 0 natural resource education to the public,lack of funding to enforcement, lazy and uneducated enforcement.
Assume you successfully regulate wake boats okay? Your still left with every other "traditional" recreationer eroding shoreline(fisherman not exempt) albeit at slower rate, homeowners illegaly developing shoreline, homeowners and builders not using proper erosion control methods.
Idk how to solve this problem, but the very people that we're talking about; I work for. Most are kind,wealthy, and 50% are self centered. They keep alot of us in the Northwoods employed, I'm not advocating that they should be jailed into their rightful vacation property. Buuuuuuuut....
There's a saying we have at work "You can't be smart if your stupid". I think it applies for these folks. They simply don't know anybetter. They can certainly afford a tax hike on their lakeshore property. Use that funding to issue all current and future developing lakeshore owners annnnd builders a "legal brochure". Something that simplifies and provides colored picture examples of current and now future legislation. Than when enforcement comes there's no exceptions for the "Oh I didnt know" statement.
Ranger-I hope you reported that garbage. Yall ever see crap like that, u can file an anymouse tip at 1-800-847-9367 to the WI DNR.
I can only speak from my experience with the lake association I belong to, but every year in their written communication and at the annual meetings there is a heavy emphasis on maintaining natural plants in the riparian zone. How it benefits everything from water quality to wildlife. However, when our now congressman, Tom Tiffany was in the state senate, he took great pride in successfully wresting shoreline zoning away from towns and counties and vesting it solely with the state. That same legislation also weakened rules put in place to protect the riparian zones. The fellow that did our landscaping after we built a house where we had a seasonal cabin just shook his head. He has a degree in horticulture but grew up in the Northwoods and feels that we had been headed in the right direction with protecting lakes/shorelines but that pretty much went out the window. |
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| "Ranger-I hope you reported that garbage. Yall ever see crap like that, u can file an anymouse tip at 1-800-847-9367 to the WI DNR."
This was in MI. Law enforcement knew all about it. The county sheriff was water patrol and to their credit they began using two officers and stopped/prepped their boat just out of sight of the landing. One cop jumped in the boat and the other quickly dropped the boat into the water and did a fast circle around the lake to identify likely violators, picked up the other cop at the landing and then went looking for the people who were driving the boats they had spotted. Every time the cops hit the water a number of pleasure boats lit for home as fast as they could. It was not unusual for the cops to go to a family's dock and demand to talk to the person they previously saw behind the wheel. The cops loved arresting Chicago folks for DUIs, particularly when the drivers were pulling kids on skis or tubes.
on a different note - Chicago folks were famous for dumping their weekend garbage on local roadsides every Sunday evening as they were headed home. I used to go thru the garbage, identify the violators, take the trash to that family's summer home and throw it all against their front doors. Repeat violators, well, I took the garbage and proof to the cops and the cops followed up with the families. Within 2-3 years the word was out, if you throw your garbage out on your way home you will get caught and you'll pay for it. It stopped. |
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| Yes, it's only the "Chicago Folks." What a load. |
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| A warm, windless day on Minnetonka is like being in a washing machine. |
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| I'm hearing gas prices soon could go over 4 bucks a gallon, and perhaps 5 when the height of the tourist season hits the lakes. Inflation is also predicted to keep rising. Maybe, just maybe, putting gas in those boats at over 100 dollars a pop will keep some of them off the water. I already know this year, I'll be stuck do more fishing off of my dock. I miss those $1.85 a gallon fill ups back in 2020. kdawg |
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| chasintails - 1/19/2022 9:26 AM
You guys should see Lake Geneva on the summer weekends, close second Fox Chain. The level of crazy is purely off the charts.
It was nuts the last time I fished it . . . nearly thirty years ago. I can't imagine it now. |
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| kdawg - 1/19/2022 6:10 PM
I'm hearing gas prices soon could go over 4 bucks a gallon, and perhaps 5 when the height of the tourist season hits the lakes. Inflation is also predicted to keep rising. Maybe, just maybe, putting gas in those boats at over 100 dollars a pop will keep some of them off the water. I already know this year, I'll be stuck do more fishing off of my dock. I miss those $1.85 a gallon fill ups back in 2020. kdawg
Well, need to remember the cheap gas was the result of the economy being in lock down, and unemployment approaching 9%. Personally, I don't want to see that again. Also, higher energy prices and inflation are a problem for the developed world, not just America. Europe is being hit even harder. I think by mid-year the energy markets will stabilize. Wells that were shut down because of lack of demand will be producing, etc. The other thing is if you can afford a half million-dollar lake home and a wake boat that costs $150,000, $4 dollar gas is not going to stop you from using it. Back in the George W. administration, gas went over $4/gallon and the only change I saw on our chain was that people were stealing gas out of boats sitting at peoples' docks. Next door neighbor had them take the whole tank, hose line and all. |
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| dhebeda - 1/19/2022 4:53 PM
Yes, it's only the "Chicago Folks." What a load.
It sure was where I lived. There was a common name(s) we called them: "FIPS" or "FIBS". "Freaking Illinois Preeks" or "Freaking Illinois Bastardos". Not exactly the true translation but you can figure it out. Those people were hated from the Michigan/Indiana line to Marquette on Lake Superior. Arrogant, pushy, wasteful, loud, inconsiderate jerks.
I bet this post gets vaporized. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Let's keep the state-to-state insults to a minimum. I spent a fairly large portion of my life in Wauconda IL. I have been called all of the things Ranger mentioned. Then I became a registered Wisconsinite and can call folks from every border state something.
I'll choose not to. |
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| North of 8, please explain how the unemployment rate effects the gas prices? The gas prices were low because the country was energy independent, the pipelines were all operational, and in fact, we were actually exporting oil to other countries. And, we were at a high unemployment rate because of lockdowns in certain states that drove it, California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey. Funny that all these states have one thing in common. Kdawg |
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| kdawg - 1/19/2022 8:30 PM
North of 8, please explain how the unemployment rate effects the gas prices? The gas prices were low because the country was energy independent, the pipelines were all operational, and in fact, we were actually exporting oil to other countries. And, we were at a high unemployment rate because of lockdowns in certain states that drove it, California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey. Funny that all these states have one thing in common. Kdawg
Why don't you take a look at gas prices in 2019, before the pandemic.
Edited by North of 8 1/19/2022 8:51 PM
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| sworrall - 1/19/2022 9:18 PM
Let's keep the state-to-state insults to a minimum. I spent a fairly large portion of my life in Wauconda IL. I have been called all of the things Ranger mentioned. Then I became a registered Wisconsinite and can call folks from every border state something.
I'll choose not to.
Ok, I'll abide, Steve.
(Wauconda sucks.)
; ) |
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| Ok. The average price per gallon during 2019 was $2.60 a gallon, about a dollar cheaper than now. North of 8, ur point sir? kdawg |
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Location: E. Tenn | https://www.barchart.com/futures/quotes/RBF22/interactive-chart
Add to the price, Federal State, and local taxes, plus about 15 cents per gallon for transportation and a bit for the guy selling the stuff to get an idea of retail price..
A frequent "contributor" to the site made this statement (paraphrased) awhile back..
"FIB is an attitude, not a declaration of origin."
That said, I've been seeing a lot of "FIB" attitude from Southern WI folks over the last several trips.
Edited by miket55 1/19/2022 9:29 PM
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| kdawg - 1/19/2022 9:30 PM
North of 8, please explain how the unemployment rate effects the gas prices? The gas prices were low because the country was energy independent, the pipelines were all operational, and in fact, we were actually exporting oil to other countries. And, we were at a high unemployment rate because of lockdowns in certain states that drove it, California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey. Funny that all these states have one thing in common. Kdawg
Our country hasn't been "energy independent" for over 100 years. We are totally "interdependent" with all other advanced countries, most of which have been cranking along for way, way longer than our country has been a country. Arrogant and foolish to believe otherwise but there we go, that's the USA. So, wave that flag, I guess. Find a neighbor to blame for your problems and send money to the folks who got you all riled up. |
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Location: Northern Illinois | kdawg - 1/19/2022 8:30 PM
North of 8, please explain how the unemployment rate effects the gas prices? The gas prices were low because the country was energy independent, the pipelines were all operational, and in fact, we were actually exporting oil to other countries. And, we were at a high unemployment rate because of lockdowns in certain states that drove it, California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey. Funny that all these states have one thing in common. Kdawg
It's what drives all price fluctuations: supply and demand. Yes the supply was up, but demand was way down as well. The number of vehicles on normally crowded Chicago expressways during the pandemic on a weekday was less than it is now at 3:00 am on a weekend - unbelievably light traffic. This went on for months. People stayed home.
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| This thread sure turned south. Like basement south. |
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| Here, I'll help it go.....
Jesus and I, well, we're both liberals who loath conservative republicans.
That oughta do it. |
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Location: oswego, il | RLSea - 1/19/2022 9:41 PM
kdawg - 1/19/2022 8:30 PM
North of 8, please explain how the unemployment rate effects the gas prices? The gas prices were low because the country was energy independent, the pipelines were all operational, and in fact, we were actually exporting oil to other countries. And, we were at a high unemployment rate because of lockdowns in certain states that drove it, California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey. Funny that all these states have one thing in common. Kdawg
It's what drives all price fluctuations: supply and demand. Yes the supply was up, but demand was way down as well. The number of vehicles on normally crowded Chicago expressways during the pandemic on a weekday was less than it is now at 3:00 am on a weekend - unbelievably light traffic. This went on for months. People stayed home.
The supply and demand argument only works when it benefits your side of the debate. I thought gas prices rose because of refinery fires in texas. That was always the case 15 years ago. |
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Location: WI | TCESOX - 1/19/2022 5:07 PM
A warm, windless day on Minnetonka is like being in a washing machine.
I think my time out there is why I don’t do much more than shrug my shoulders at this topic. Accept it, be angry while you fish or don’t fish. |
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| raftman - 1/20/2022 5:33 AM
TCESOX - 1/19/2022 5:07 PM
A warm, windless day on Minnetonka is like being in a washing machine.
I think my time out there is why I don’t do much more than shrug my shoulders at this topic. Accept it, be angry while you fish or don’t fish.
I just prefer to fish bad weather. Chases recreational boaters right off the lake. I'd rather curse the rain, than other people. |
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| There's a reason for stereotypes and it isn't ignorance. When I bought my property up North my realtor asked where I was from, and when he found out he said "What are you doing way up here??" I laughed and said "Well, I used to spend a lot of time in Southern WI, but that's just an extension of IL. Then I fished in Madison for several years, and well.. you know - Madison. Slowly I realized that people from IL have managed to ruin everything North of highway 10, so I went to Minocqua, and that STILL wasn't far enough, so I figured I go North some more. Then I discovered the "yoopers" and figured it was time to turn around." |
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| So what I gather is people from Illinois are bad, wake boats are bad, and people from Illinois with Wake boats are really really bad. OK
Is it okay to go to Canada or do they not like people from Illinois either?
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | chasintails - 1/20/2022 10:41 AM
So what I gather is people from Illinois are bad, wake boats are bad, and people from Illinois with Wake boats are really really bad. OK
Is it okay to go to Canada or do they not like people from Illinois either?
[/QUOTE
People from IL are not bad. I'm from IL. People with wake boats who have zero courtesy toward other folks on the water from anywhere, in my world, are. The wakeboard boat dealers will argue. |
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Location: oswego, il | chasintails - 1/20/2022 10:41 AM
So what I gather is people from Illinois are bad, wake boats are bad, and people from Illinois with Wake boats are really really bad. OK
Is it okay to go to Canada or do they not like people from Illinois either?
I am.a.proud FIB and my money is good everywhere. |
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| chasintails - 1/20/2022 10:41 AM
So what I gather is people from Illinois are bad, wake boats are bad, and people from Illinois with Wake boats are really really bad. OK
Is it okay to go to Canada or do they not like people from Illinois either?
The chain where I live, roughly half the properties are owned by folks that either live in Illinois or formerly lived in Illinois. I don't see any difference in their behavior from the Wis. natives. Many are great, some are jerks. Some pay a lot of property tax and use the property very little. |
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| It seems that since Covid hit everybody and their brother bought a boat. Maybe when things return to normal (if ever) boat traffic will decline and the wake boaters and high HP pontooners will go back to whatever it was they used to do, but I doubt it.
Ranger I never thought I would run into somebody on this board that I wouldn’t fish with but I think I found one. GLTY.
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Ranger - 1/19/2022 9:00 PM
sworrall - 1/19/2022 9:18 PM
Let's keep the state-to-state insults to a minimum. I spent a fairly large portion of my life in Wauconda IL. I have been called all of the things Ranger mentioned. Then I became a registered Wisconsinite and can call folks from every border state something.
I'll choose not to.
Ok, I'll abide, Steve.
(Wauconda sucks. )
; )
Bangs Lake ain't what it used to be. |
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| Ranger - 1/19/2022 11:06 PM
Here, I'll help it go.....
Jesus and I, well, we're both liberals who loath conservative republicans.
That oughta do it.[/ I feel the same about liberal democrats, but, after a lively debate/discussion, I can still go out and share my boat and a beer with one. Kdawg |
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| Maybe all the fisherman on the water these days driving tanks all over for a toothy fish have created an artificial demand for gas???
I've been thinking of getting a wakeboat. Speed trolling in that big wake would definitely be something the fish haven't seen.
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Location: Twin Cities Metro | My wife loves pleasure boating. When I talked to her about this thread, she said she'd probably really like that wake surfing stuff. I know she would, too!
Today she came in from taking our dog through the trails behind our house. She was angry that someone had taken an ATV through the trails and spoiled the animal tracks and the trails she had blazed through the winter landscape in the woods. I smiled and said, "It's sort of like folks with their wake boats, really." She could only laugh and agree.
If only everyone would take a moment to imagine themselves in other people's boots, maybe we'd all be a little more courteous. |
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Location: SE, WI. | ARmuskyaddict - 1/21/2022 10:05 AM Maybe all the fisherman on the water these days driving tanks all over for a toothy fish have created an artificial demand for gas??? I've been thinking of getting a wakeboat. Speed trolling in that big wake would definitely be something the fish haven't seen. Don’t Bet on this ! |
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| ARmuskyaddict - 1/21/2022 10:05 AM
Maybe all the fisherman on the water these days driving tanks all over for a toothy fish have created an artificial demand for gas???
I've been thinking of getting a wakeboat. Speed trolling in that big wake would definitely be something the fish haven't seen.
As I read about them, I don't think they go all that fast, not like a ski boat. |
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Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | https://kstp.com/uncategorized/study-wakesurf-boats-need-extra-dista... |
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| jchiggins - 2/3/2022 2:12 PM
https://kstp.com/uncategorized/study-wakesurf-boats-need-extra-dista...
Reading that study, I had this image of fishing a mid-lake rock pile and having wake boats going in opposite directions on each side of you. To me that is the difference between wind generated waves and those generated by multiple boats. Washing machine effect that Steve described is more accurate. Wind can't come at you from three directions at once. |
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| While WI continues to discuss how and if to regulate wake boats, Vermont has introduced some of the toughest regulations in the country. Among other things, they must stay 500 feet from shoreline, operate in no less than 20 ft deep water and can only be used on one lake unless cleaned at a state authorized cleaning station in between lakes.
Really don't see that happening in WI but it is interesting. In Northern WI it is a hot topic but there does not seem to be a consensus on what direction to go. Some lake property owners are adamant that change is needed but the marine industry and wake boaters are also adamant that existing regs are enough. The boats are big sellers and they are very profitable for dealers. |
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | sworrall - 1/15/2022 10:14 PM
IAJustin - 1/14/2022 1:11 PM
My first thought is if the lake is big enough that someone wants to wakeboard on it, it probably has 3' waves when the wind blows hard too? I'd be fine if all lakes 1000 acres or less were no wake - ha!
Nope. There are wakeboard boats and 600 hp pontoons on 500 acre lakes here. It's so bad some days you can't stand up in the boat. Minocqua is absolutely ridiculous.
Steve Worrall on a local lake with wakeboards, water skiers and jetskies.
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| When talking about the wake boats and compare it to a big fishing boat the wake part is what it is. I have a large fishing boat. I get on plane in 30’. I don’t put out a 3’ roller for 7 hours. And the main topic should be shoreline erosion. Displacement of weeds. Filling in spawning areas. And even the hitting and destroying of cribs. Not to mention throwing fisherman and boaters out of the boats. Beating boats against docks and shoreline. Most of the lakes especially here in northern wi never see a natural 2’ wave. Let alone sustained 3-4’ waves. It changes the ecosystem of the lake. And disrupts everything. And not like these boats get up and go. They run a 3’-4’ wave non stop for hours in a circle while someone stands on a board behind the boat. Fun. Could stand in the yard and get sprayed with a hose and do the same thing without destroying a body of water. It’s all greed by those who collect the registration money and don’t care about the natural resources we have. It’s disgusting to watch and think about. And when you contact the dnr about it they say they have a 10 year plan in place. Well anyone that lives or spends time on a lake in this area that pays attention will see the difference in spawning areas. The depletion of fish. And the depletion of weeds since most the sand and loose debris cloud up and choke out the living weeds. It sucks that it comes to a discussion and no one cares enough to do what is right and try to save at least one aspect of our waters and fishing |
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| The DNR is not the rule maker. That is the state legislature. Under Walker and the Republican legislature in WI, the DNR lost almost all rule making authority. Don't contact the DNR, contact your local assembly Rep. and state senator. I fish from time to time with a DNR Warden. He gets calls all the time about wake boats. Not a thing he can do about it.
I have contacted the Assembly Representative for Rhinelander about this issue and his responses was blah, blah, blah. Money talks and the wake boat owners and the folks who sell them put money into politicians. A fully tricked out 21' foot Ranger is just entry level money for a wake boat. |
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Location: Brighton CO. | I grew up in Southern California six miles from the ocean and one city over from Huntington Beach also known as Surf City.
In 1975 when I was in 8th grade I did a speech in front of the class on Surfing, so I checked out a book on surfing I the library and in the last chapter was about surfing behind a boat. So at the end of my speech "some people surf behind a boat" Everybody laughed "who the hell would do that" None of us had ever herd of that. |
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Location: SW Ohio | chuckski - 1/13/2024 9:53 AM
I grew up in Southern California six miles from the ocean and one city over from Huntington Beach also known as Surf City.
In 1975 when I was in 8th grade I did a speech in front of the class on Surfing, so I checked out a book on surfing I the library and in the last chapter was about surfing behind a boat. So at the end of my speech "some people surf behind a boat" Everybody laughed "who the hell would do that" None of us had ever herd of that.
So, you’re the one to blame for wake board boats on our lakes? ;-). |
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Location: Brighton CO. | I know your kidding, Don't shoot the messenger. I have to say for a few years after that report it was a running joke my friends and I would go to a lake and they would joke "good thing the lake is not over run with people surfing behind the boat" We never saw a single boat Wake Surfing. But always the Water Skiers, then came the Jet Ski's and bigger and more boats and yes almost 50 years later Wake boarders. |
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| In today's online version of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the paper's out door writer did a piece on the results of the Spring Conservation Hearings and a couple of other surveys done on whether folks wish to see restrictions placed on "wake boats". At the Spring hearings, with over 10,000 participants the vote for restricting was 71%. Other surveys, involving thousands each had similar results. While acknowledging that the legislature has dodged the issue for two years, he felt they would have no choice but to address it in the next session, 2025.
I am skeptical, simply because the folks who can afford these boats are the ones state legislators depend on for campaign funding. That even came up at one of the town board meetings where a local ordinance was being discussed. A number of towns have passed ordinances in the last year, but since neither county or state officials can enforce them, no one is enforcing them. Township where I live has a part time constable but he is limited to things like barking dogs, loose dogs, etc. |
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Location: NW WI | Yes it was on the docket for spring public hearing. But if I'm remembering correctly it wasn't approached as a matter of erosion. It was approached as a matter of Invasive transportation, I believe stating that in most boats it's impossible to drain all ballast, often times leaving +8gallons in the boat. I was unable to attend myself, but I would've liked to have been there for that subject and the FFS item. |
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| 7.62xJay - 5/1/2024 10:02 PM
Yes it was on the docket for spring public hearing. But if I'm remembering correctly it wasn't approached as a matter of erosion. It was approached as a matter of Invasive transportation, I believe stating that in most boats it's impossible to drain all ballast, often times leaving +8gallons in the boat. I was unable to attend myself, but I would've liked to have been there for that subject and the FFS item.
There were actually three different questions about enhanced wake boats on the spring hearing ballot. One was specifically about the ballast water but one also focused on them being further away from shore and in deeper water while operating. All had overwhelming support. |
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Location: NW WI | My mistake, well good, that's terrific to hear there's overwhelming public support to get some new regs written to protect our waterways. Something like "Operating Wake boats within range of a spud launcher from shore shall result in incoming artillery" might not make it to paper, but those of you in Lake Associations: lets try to make it an unwritten rule okay?
"Protecting Northwoods Waters One Potatoe at a Time" would make a nice T-shirt. |
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Location: Brighton CO. | We can go trolling with a long chain behind the boat using the proceeds from Jay's T-shirts. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians "This Week's News: Tribal Council Bans Wake Boats" |
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| sworrall - 5/21/2024 4:28 PM
Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians "This Week's News: Tribal Council Bans Wake Boats"
Interesting. Do they have a tribal police force? That has been the issue with townships passing restrictions, most towns don't have anyone to enforce town ordinances. And county and state officials can't enforce on behalf of towns. |
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Location: Brighton CO. | On the Reservations the bands have there own law just like its's a different country. Maybe a nice little foot hold to get things changed. |
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| This thread brings up something i remember from the Old masters of musky hunting. Those fellas clearly brought up the changes seen when recreational boats/namely Jet skis and the impacts they had on spawning habitats, young weed growth etc and the detriment it had. Sounds like we'll see/ start seeing the same thing from the wake boats and the bigger impact over time. I know out here in Colorado its a fiasco fishing any bigger water because of all the joy boaters, jet ski's and wake boats now. |
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| If everyone could just follow the golden rule and treat fellow boaters as we would want to be treated, it would be a lot more fun on the water. And I don't give fishermen a pass either. Some of the rudest boaters I have encountered have been fishermen. |
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| Wake boats! I have a new "Maybe I didn't think this all the way thru" solution. 5" motor firework shells that explode like a mother****er. How do you like how I adjust trajectory? I've done some performance testing and can consistently fire a mortar that explodes 5' above the water surface at 40 yards.
Watch for these to be available at Bass Pro Shops soon.
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| Ranger - 5/26/2024 12:57 AM
Wake boats! I have a new "Maybe I didn't think this all the way thru" solution. 5" motor firework shells that explode like a mother****er. How do you like how I adjust trajectory? I've done some performance testing and can consistently fire a mortar that explodes 5' above the water surface at 40 yards.
Watch for these to be available at Bass Pro Shops soon.
Yeah, think I would stick with the spud gun solution suggested earlier. I am impressed by the mechanics of that solution though. Sadly, given how loud their music is, not sure they would hear the shells detonate. For some reason, the giant speaker towers on those boats is not mentioned by most. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Minocqua Lake was a zoo yesterday. Giant pontoons roaring around wide open and wake boats going as slow as it takes to make the maximum wake. Zoo. |
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Location: E. Tenn | So far on the Three Lakes Chain this week, I've seen a wake boat on each, a 122 acre lake, and a 95 acre puddle that has an average depth of 8.
There was also the evening "concert" emanating from a lake a way down the road yesterday.. |
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| sworrall - 6/3/2024 2:58 PM
Minocqua Lake was a zoo yesterday. Giant pontoons roaring around wide open and wake boats going as slow as it takes to make the maximum wake. Zoo.
Just saw a new tri-toon advertised on FB Marketplace, 30' long, 600 HP Mercury.
I don't get it. We have a pontoon, 90% of the time we are putting along, enjoying being on the water. Maybe some wine, cheese/sausage and crackers. Visitors love seeing the lakes and shorelines that way. And you actually see things like otters, loons, eagles, osprey, etc. About the only time I crank it wide open is pulling tubers or if we happen to get caught in an unexpected rain storm.
I will say that 600 HP Merc is an impressive motor. |
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Location: E. Tenn | North of 8 - 6/3/2024 6:00 PM
sworrall - 6/3/2024 2:58 PM
I will say that 600 HP Merc is an impressive motor.
Just a tick over 50GPH @ WOT... impressive fuel bill..
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| Eh, if you can afford $300,000 for a pontoon boat, guessing gas costs are not a big worry. When I lived in Fond du Lac, knew several engineers who worked at Merc. Would like to hear their thoughts on that giant motor. |
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Posts: 161
| I haven't seen a wake boat yet this season here in MN that's actually wake surfing. The water has been too cold. Its not even 70 degrees here yet, even on smaller metro lakes.
I saw one guy water skiing but he was wearing a wet suit. Most people are not willing to "swim" in the water until it reaches a minimum of 70 degrees. Cooler weather and rain every few days has been a blessing. I'm sure that will eventually change. |
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Posts: 1297
Location: E. Tenn | That motor is definitely a different animal..
If money is no object why mount just one? lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUAJRv27r-0 |
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Have seen photos of off shore fishing boats with 3, 4 of them. The engineering of the transom must be something. |
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Posts: 373
Location: Browerville, Minnesota | My son and I went out fishing yesterday, got on the water a little before 5 and it was a zoo. Trying to get to the first spot I wanted to fish and sure enough here come Captain Johnny in his wake boat with 3 girls and two other young men with him, cruising just fast enough to make 3 foot rollers and right in everyone's way, so I dropped the hammer and went 50 yards off his bow to get around him. Of course I got the 1 finger salute because I was in his way. Then he proceeded to follow me and make waves around the boat when we started to fish. The lake I usually fish on, which was the one last night, has had a few wake boats, but this year it seems like they all gave birth to triplets with retarded drivers. Then, the retarded drivers seemingly invited their cousins, you know, the ones with the 22 foot pontoon, 300 on the back and a sound system you can hear all the way across the 3000 acre lake. Wasn't a spot on the lake we fished where you couldn't hear music coming from a wake boat or a pontoon. When we finally decided to head home, we got to the landing and one of the cousins came in with their pontoon, music cranked. Must have been 8-10 on that ship and all but the driver were so #*^@ drunk they could hardly walk off the dock at the landing. I just drove away shaking my head. |
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Posts: 3904
| Wake board boat deterrent. You can have one for free.
Edited by Ranger 6/9/2024 6:05 PM
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Posts: 3904
| That was the prototype. Here's the latest model.
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Posts: 210
| The Town of Presque Isle had a leadership shakeup las fall after the elections and recently passed an ordinance banning wake boats on all town waters with the exception of Oxbow. It appears special consideration was given to a property owner on that lake. The Town of Winchester has also passed a similar ordinance as shown in the attached picture. It should be noted that neither town has the ability to enforce the two ordinances. Presque Isle disbanded their municipal court some years back and the Sheriffs dept will not enforce the local ordinance.
These ordinances were passed over the objections of the city attorneys as they are not likely to survive a court challenge and represent a significant financial liability to the towns. The ordinances appear to be poorly written.
The Wilderness Alliance has advised their members to take photos of the offending watercraft and turn them over to the town. I suspect this will only lead to on the water conflicts and will not result in any enforcement.
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| Vilas County towns as well as Oneida are considering or have passed ordinances that sound similar. There is a retired attorney who has been helping lead the effort. Enforcement is an issue that keeps getting brought up. Some feel that just posting said ordinance will discourage wake boaters. I think it could end up being a real s*** show.
I know a DNR warden and he said they get calls all the time but has to tell folks that if it is not a state law they cannot enforce the ordinance. Same with property damage, as happens when wake boats come close to shore and damage lake front or wash kayaks and other craft into the water. Guy who lives on a 300 acre lake near me has always stored his kayaks on his dock, couple feet above the water. But last year a visiting wake boat blew them off and he had to go wading to retrieve and search the bottom for the paddles. He claims the wake was at least two feet over his dock when it hit. |
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Posts: 32910
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | ONE wake boat kept my Lund bobbing like a cork from 7 AM until we left the area on Minocqua this morning 2 hours later. Back and forth in Stacks Bay, seemingly unaware of all that other water out there. I came up with a couple of new swear words today.
This thing hit a Violent Strike Lures spinnerbait and literally tried to tear up the inside of the boat while I was trying to get the hooks out. Biggest bowfin I've ever seen, I should have measured it I guess. We had to go to a car wash to swamp out the inside of the boat, my clothes look like I lost a fight, and before getting it back in the water it spattered Sue in the face. She was not impressed..
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| Dogfish may be primitive and ugly, but they fight. Grew up catching them on cranberry ditches in central WI. My dad carried a side cutter and cut the hooks rather than try and unhook them.
Edited by North of 8 6/15/2024 4:14 PM
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Posts: 3904
| sworrall - 6/15/2024 4:17 PM
ONE wake boat kept my Lund bobbing like a cork from 7 AM until we left the area on Minocqua this morning 2 hours later. Back and forth in Stacks Bay, seemingly unaware of all that other water out there. I came up with a couple of new swear words today.
This thing hit a Violent Strike Lures spinnerbait and literally tried to tear up the inside of the boat while I was trying to get the hooks out. Biggest bowfin I've ever seen, I should have measured it I guess. We had to go to a car wash to swamp out the inside of the boat, my clothes look like I lost a fight, and before getting it back in the water it spattered Sue in the face. She was not impressed..
When I was a 11y/o I sometimes got permission to stay out after bedtime to wade the spring shoreline with a cheapo flashlight and a homemade spear (half a cane pole tipped with a heavy frog gig). Fast forward 20 years and I would simply tie a basket with a couple live bluegill to the end of the pier and walk out every hour or so and shoot at the dogfish nosing the basket with a bow. In between the ticket was to use a trolling motor on a duck boat with a trident attached to the end of one of those extendo aluminum poles used to remove lightbulbs. Speared so many I learned to use a homemade thumper to knock the fish silly and into a plastic tub. In those days a dogfish was useful only to eat the eggs and fry of the fish we wanted to catch. So, it was a catch and kill deal. Wouldn't do it now but boy was that fun back in the day.
Oh, really big dogfish? Hit them hard and try to pin them to the lake bottom. When they get out from under the pressure let go of the spear because I had a 25' piece of light rope tied to the spear and my wrist. Chase the spear. The very biggest often got away, eventually tore out.
Edited by Ranger 6/15/2024 7:29 PM
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Posts: 2298
Location: SE, WI. |
sworrall - 6/15/2024 3:17 PM ONE wake boat kept my Lund bobbing like a cork from 7 AM until we left the area on Minocqua this morning 2 hours later. Back and forth in Stacks Bay, seemingly unaware of all that other water out there. I came up with a couple of new swear words today. This thing hit a Violent Strike Lures spinnerbait and literally tried to tear up the inside of the boat while I was trying to get the hooks out. Biggest bowfin I've ever seen, I should have measured it I guess. We had to go to a car wash to swamp out the inside of the boat, my clothes look like I lost a fight, and before getting it back in the water it spattered Sue in the face. She was not impressed.. Maybe a better alternative would have been to leave the bait in its mouth and cut the line, since the bait probably didn’t cost you much ;)…..or, leave the net in the water, extracting hooks, and the pliers slip and a few gills accidentally attach to the pliers;) ;)….just sayin! JD
Edited by jdsplasher 6/16/2024 5:46 AM
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Posts: 32910
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | My guess is that one won't survive. I'd worry about losing that much blood myself.
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Posts: 230
| There is a pretty good article in this month's In-Fisherman on Dogfish. It brought back of memories of destroyed spinner baits, and some hands that bled more than most encounters with muskies teeth. |
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Posts: 161
| A local or township ordinance isn't legally enforceable. Any law that prohibits a specific watercraft like a wake boat will need to be addressed at the state level, not a local one.
This is slippery slope too. Townships and lake associations could go further and start limiting access. We do want the lakes to remain open to public use. Just not the ones who are ruining it for everyone else. |
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| gimruis - 6/17/2024 2:52 PM
A local or township ordinance isn't legally enforceable. Any law that prohibits a specific watercraft like a wake boat will need to be addressed at the state level, not a local one.
This is slippery slope too. Townships and lake associations could go further and start limiting access. We do want the lakes to remain open to public use. Just not the ones who are ruining it for everyone else.
A town ordinance can be enforced but it would require a town constable, with law enforcement powers. Enforcing dog leash laws is a simple example. The problem is that few towns have constables. Whether the ordinance is constitutional becomes the issue. I think it is going to be a real mess, and money will be spent by both sides. |
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Posts: 542
Location: NW WI | Not saying this as an argumentive statement. But truly curious.
What's the legal difference between a city or township ordinance as shown above and a watercraft speed limit ordinance or a tolled landing? |
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| The legal authority of various units of government is typically set by the state. In WI for instance, townships can no longer have ordinances governing water front usage. They used to be able to set minimum shoreline footage for homes that was greater than the state's. What a city/township/county can do may be spelled out in state law, or it is established through legal precedent. The later is where these wake boat ordinances is probably headed. There will likely be lawsuits and the court decision will be the deciding factor, unless the legislature takes action.
(One note on enforcement of town ordinances, I did find where some towns contract with the county sheriff's office to provide enforcement of town ordinances.)
Edited by North of 8 6/18/2024 7:43 AM
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Posts: 161
| Good video about potential legislation in Wisconsin on these. I live in MN and I would support this 100%.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prb9mgfARXI
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| Well done report. One note in the story that I could relate to is how far that big wake travels. Couple years ago, for the first time I was fishing while a wake boat was on the lake. I was quite some distance from them, well over 200 yards. Because of that I wasn't really expecting much impact but the waves did travel that far and were substantial. I and the boat were in water less than 10' deep, so maybe that made things worse. But I had seen a couple kayakers head for shore when the wake surfing started.
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Posts: 773
| You can never assume to believe you seen it all. This afternoon , was sitting on my deck when I heard the roar of a powerful boat(s) about to pass by. Two idiots were racing in their pontoons, not sure of the size but both looked like they were over 20ft. Of course massive outboards on both. But that was not the crazy part. Both slowed down and began doing donuts! In these huge pontoons!! It's been crazy on my chain this year. Kdawg |
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| The horsepower race with pontoons is one of those things I can't quite wrap mind around. (I have a pontoon, with a 90hp motor)
We went to a birthday party on Friday. My wife's sister lives on the Wolf River and we went for a little cruise on the Wolf in their pontoon. Great afternoon, did not see another boat in an hour on the river. One of my brothers in law who was along for the ride mentioned how when he was on the Eagle River chain recently, saw a pontoon at a marina with twin 500hp outboards. Now, he is a big NASCAR fan, worked on heavy equipment for the biggest CAT dealer in the Midwest for 40+ years. He appreciates big motors, etc., but he was just shaking his head. A thousand horsepower on a pontoon on the Eagle River chain? |
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Posts: 542
Location: NW WI | N8:
It ain't no different than any other large unnecessary luxury expense. If it's not logical or functional: Its for attention. " Ooooo Look what I have" or shear ignorant spending or a passion for collecting with a large expendable income. Look no further than automobiles. Not any different. Yes, there is a place and time where said "tool" has a function or can be utilized. But those circumstances are slim to nill and typically the owner doesn't and/or cant utilize its potential capabilities. |
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